1+1+1=1

[BMorel]

So like the title implies, this is about the Holy Trinity. Many secularist and new agers and, well, frankly most non Catholics, love to point out that the answer to that little equation in the topic line is infact 3. How do I refute them? How can one such as myself, by no means an apologist, explain this idea of the three being one God without getting too into faith, because lets face it, if faith could explain it, it wouldn’t need explaining.

 

[oldcatholicguy]

They’re using the wrong cross in their equation. They need to be using St. Andrew’s cross. 1x1x1=1.

Or, you could have them list out all the things they are at the same time (like being a father, brother, son, husband, male, Catholic, American citizen, veteran) and ask them how it’s possible for them to be 8 different people at the same time.

 

[BMorel]

They’re using the wrong cross in their equation. They need to be using St. Andrew’s cross. 1x1x1=1.

Or, you could have them list out all the things they are at the same time (like being a father, brother, son, husband, male, Catholic, American citizen, veteran) and ask them how it’s possible for them to be 8 different people at the same time.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

Or, you could have them list out all the things they are at the same time (like being a father, brother, son, husband, male, Catholic, American citizen, veteran) and ask them how it’s possible for them to be 8 different people at the same time.

That is probably the best answer I’ve heard to that, ever!

 

[aemcpa]

They’re using the wrong cross in their equation. They need to be using St. Andrew’s cross. 1x1x1=1.

Or, you could have them list out all the things they are at the same time (like being a father, brother, son, husband, male, Catholic, American citizen, veteran) and ask them how it’s possible for them to be 8 different people at the same time.

Except that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit actually are 3 distinct Persons.

One cannot prove the Trinity without recourse to the acceptance of Divine revelation. It is inaccessible by the light of human intellect.

 

[R_C]

Many secularist and new agers and, well, frankly most non Catholics, love to point out that the answer to that little equation in the topic line is infact 3. How do I refute them?

oldcatholicguy gave an intriguing answer. But…would they accept it? Probably not To me, such a “profound” question requires a strict application of the policy delineated in Proverbs 26:4

 

[jonathan_hili]

So like the title implies, this is about the Holy Trinity. Many secularist and new agers and, well, frankly most non Catholics, love to point out that the answer to that little equation in the topic line is infact 3. How do I refute them? How can one such as myself, by no means an apologist, explain this idea of the three being one God without getting too into faith, because lets face it, if faith could explain it, it wouldn’t need explaining.

Another way you might like to think about it is in marriage, where 1+1=1.

Or a family, where 1+1+1=1 too

But seriously, it’s a category mistake. To say 1+1+1=1 implies that God is some object that can be counted or added. “Oh, there’s one god plus that god over there…”

Was it C.S. Lewis who used this analogy for the Trinity - it’s like a cube: length+width+depth = cube?

 

[JRKH]

Tell them it is “boolean”…

When I read the title of the thread that is what I immediately thought of.

Peace
James

 

[aemcpa]

Another way you might like to think about it is in marriage, where 1+1=1.

Or a family, where 1+1+1=1 too

But seriously, it’s a category mistake. To say 1+1+1=1 implies that God is some object that can be counted or added. “Oh, there’s one god plus that god over there…”

Was it C.S. Lewis who used this analogy for the Trinity - it’s like a cube: length+width+depth = cube?

No need to be facetious about it - marriage and family life IS an image of the Trinity. Aquinas calls the procession by which the Son is eternally begotten of the Father “the procession of the Word”; an earthly analogy is Eve coming forth from Adam. Likewise, the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son he calls “the procession of Love”; the analogy to a child being the result of the unity of husband and wife is clear.

 

[babs57]

I have heard it explained that as there is only one humanity, but many human beings, there is only one divinity. However, because of the nature of divinity, (that being of which no greater being can be conceived), there can be only one. But we know He is three because He has revealed Himself in His Son, Who is also Himself. And if He has (is) a son, then He is (has) a father. And the Love that He shares is life-giving, and is the Spirit.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

Well, just let me know which bridges or airplanes you design.

 

[babs57]

Well, just let me know which bridges or airplanes you design.

 

[aemcpa]

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that 26+6 also equals 1.

 

[oldcatholicguy]

oldcatholicguy gave an intriguing answer. But…would they accept it? Probably not To me, such a “profound” question requires a strict application of the policy delineated in Proverbs 26:4

The ones who would accept it and the further in-depth discussion that would follow (aemcpa’s post) are those who either believe in a flawed concept of God (i.e. a non-Catholic understanding of God) or non-believers who actually wish to engage in a discussion in order to further their understanding of the faith. The bumper sticker philosophers and believers (you can fit their entire philosophical or belief system on a bumper sticker) are a lost cause in regards to this subject.

 

[Anthony86]

Or, you could have them list out all the things they are at the same time (like being a father, brother, son, husband, male, Catholic, American citizen, veteran) and ask them how it’s possible for them to be 8 different people at the same time.

This is actually different from how the Church understands the Trinity (insofar as this mystery can be understood). In your example, we’re talking about a single person, fulfilling several different roles and/or standing in diverse relations to others. In the case of the Trinity, we’re talking about three different Persons, who are somehow one being. An (apparently) different understanding of how They are One is part of what separates Roman Catholicism from Eastern Orthodoxy.

 

[Joe_5859]

Cutesie math equations do not replace logical arguments.

The Catholic Church teaches there are 3 Persons in 1 God. So the equation would be:

1 Person + 1 Person + 1 Person = 1 God

not

1 Person + 1 Person + 1 Person = 1 Person

If that was what the Church taught, then their cute little “problem” would be more understandable.

But that’s not what the Church teaches. No one would say:

1 apple + 1 apple + 1 apple = 3 bushels of apples

 

[Joe_5859]

This is actually different from how the Church understands the Trinity (insofar as this mystery can be understood). In your example, we’re talking about a single person, fulfilling several different roles and/or standing in diverse relations to others. In the case of the Trinity, we’re talking about three different Persons, who are somehow one being. An (apparently) different understanding of how They are One is part of what separates Roman Catholicism from Eastern Orthodoxy.

Yeah, if the analogy was drawn out to its extreme, it might lead someone into the heresy of modalism. But it’s just an analogy.

 

[aemcpa]

Cutesie math equations do not replace logical arguments.

The Catholic Church teaches there are 3 Persons in 1 God. So the equation would be:

1 Person + 1 Person + 1 Person = 1 God

That would imply that each Person is 1/3 of God, which would be an abominable act of blasphemy.

 

[JRKH]

Cutesie math equations do not replace logical arguments.

The Catholic Church teaches there are 3 Persons in 1 God. So the equation would be:

1 Person + 1 Person + 1 Person = 1 God

not

1 Person + 1 Person + 1 Person = 1 Person

If that was what the Church taught, then their cute little “problem” would be more understandable.

But that’s not what the Church teaches. No one would say:

1 apple + 1 apple + 1 apple = 3 bushels of apples

 

[JRKH]

That would imply that each Person is 1/3 of God, which would be an abominable act of blasphemy.

Good point - but then trying to comprehend the incompressible is tricky…

Suppose we say we have three containers of water. We pour each of these into a third container…How many containers of water do we have?

1container of water + 1container of water + 1container of water = 1container of water…

This may not be any better…but I thought I’d toss it out there…

Peace
James